It can be very frightening when a person suffers from an anxiety attack and does not know the difference between heart attacks and anxiety.  Unless a person is familiar with the symptoms of each, there might not seem to be too much of a difference between heart attacks and anxiety attacks.  Knowing the difference can relieve the fears that accompany anxiety attacks. 

Both a heart attack and a panic attack are accompanied by feelings that involve the heart.  In a panic attack, the heart beat speeds up and the sufferer may be aware of their increasing heartbeats to the point that they can even hear the beating in their ears.  A person may mistakenly believe that this is the onset of a heart attack and the great feeling of fear worsens any symptoms that follow. 

The feelings of fear are escalated and the person is unable to think of anything other than their increasing fear and symptoms during an anxiety attack.  The fear may be accompanied by a feeling that the person will die of their symptoms.  This creates a vicious circle for the sufferer because as they become more fearful, they can bring more symptoms of the panic attack that in turn increases the levels of fear and anxiety.  

Differences Between A Heart Attack and Anxiety Attacks

The difference between heart attacks and anxiety attacks is important to understand.  Although the heart can beat at a rapid rate and may give a feeling of some pain in the area, a real heart attack will give a strong crushing sensation in the chest and the pain is evident during the entire attack.  Unlike the rapid beating that is uncomfortable to endure, the pain from a heart attack can be so strong that the person just falls over.  Any discomfort in the chest area caused by an anxiety attack just does not produce such an intense reaction as in the event of a heart attack.

It is easy to understand why many sufferers may feel like they are having a heart attack if they do not understand the difference between heart attacks and anxiety attacks.  It is important that anyone close to you who may witness a panic attack knows the difference between heart attacks and anxiety attacks as well.  If you suffer from panic attacks, knowing the difference between heart attacks and anxiety attacks can reduce your fear level the next time a panic attack occurs.